The Collected Works of Owen Wister (eBook)

Owen Wister (1860–1938), an American writer, is frequently acknowledged as the father of Western fiction, with his most famous work 'The Virginian' shaping the genre's archetype of the cowboy hero. Born into an affluent family in Philadelphia, Wister was educated at Harvard University, where he began to cultivate his literary interests. After initially pursuing a career in music, and due to recurrent health issues, he changed direction, finding solace and inspiration in the American West. His travels through Wyoming and other Western states imbued in him a sense of romanticism for the frontier, a theme that pervades his body of work. Wister's prose, characterized by the practicality of dialogue and vivid descriptions of Western landscapes, has contributed to the nation's mythos and identity. Though 'The Virginian' stands as his seminal contribution to American literature, Wister's 'The Collected Works of Owen Wister' underscores the extensive range of his writing, encompassing not only novels but also successful short stories, and essays. His literary style blends realism with romanticized ideals of honor and chivalry, often reflecting the social standards and issues of his time. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Wister's influence extends beyond literature; his narratives have also been adapted into films and television, further entrenching his legacy as a quintessential storyteller of the American West.